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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-12Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 12 February, 1997[01] KOFI ANNAN SOON IN MACEDONIALjubomir Frchkovski, the Head of Macedonian Diplomacy, has assessed his several-day-long visit to the US as extremely significant for the development of relations between the US and Macedonia, at yesterday's press conference. Upon reviewing his activities during this visit Frchkovski stated that talks with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and several US Congressmen revolved around bilateral relations and conditions in the region - as Macedonia embodies one of the priority issues of US foreign policy. According to Minister Frchkovski the US have expressed their support for the implementation of reforms in Macedonia, which is apparently conducive to its stability - particularly in comparison to turmoils prevailing in this region.At the UN seat in New York two rather relevant issues have been discussed with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: one being the UNPREDEP mandate in Macedonia, the other concerns the current candidacy of our country for becoming a temporary member of the UN Security Council - Minister Frchkovski informed further. While stressing that the first question needed to be discussed subsequently, the Macedonian Foreign Secretary pointed out that the Secretary-General expressed his wishes for a successful Security Council candidacy. On this occasion the leader of this global organisation also announced his intention to visit Macedonia soon - most probably during the Forum on Balkan Europeanisation. During his meeting with the Russian Ambassador to the UN Sergey Lavrov - as Minister Frchkovski stated - discussions had also touched upon the issue of extending the UNPREDEP mandate in Macedonia, and the Russian representative had claimed that the circumstances which were to influence Russia's views on this matter are yet to be discerned. [02] FRENCH SUPPORT OF DONORS' CONFERENCE `PART DEUX'During talks at the French Ministry of Finance and Economy, between the Macedonian delegation and France's Minister of International and Economic Trade Relations Yves Gallant, Macedonian Finance Minister Taki Fiti informed his host of the economic and political situation in Macedonia, of the implementation of reform and privatisation procedures and of the banking system sanation. MTV reports that this meeting had also been attended by the Head of Macedonian Customs Ilija Iljoski and the Macedonian Ambassador to France H.E.Amb. Luan Starova. It has been agreed that the Macedonian Minister is to forward a list with all Macedonian businesses undergoing privatisation to his French counterpart, in order to facilitate possible investments by the French side in Macedonia. The latter also reconfirmed its support of the Donors' Conference for Macedonia - scheduled for 25th and 26th February in Brussels - which is to boost the financial balance of the country.[03] VECHER: `THE BORDER IS BEING DRAWN'As of yesterday the joint diplomatic expert commission on border demarcation between SR Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia is analysing concrete proposals on the border's actual physiognomy, submitted by both sides... according to `Vecher'. The latter also reports that Macedonian views on this issue are being studied in Belgrade and vice versa. The following couple of days are to reveal whether any disagreement is to surface; possible objections are to be discussed at the next session of the joint commission to held in Belgrade - once both sides are ready.[04] DRAFT-BILL ON OMBUDSMAN ADOPTEDAt yesterday's session the Macedonian Government has analysed and favourably assessed the Draft-Bill on the institution Ombudsman - submitted to the Parliament by LP representative Zoran Krstevski. This draft makes codifies the Constitutional obligation of the state and regulates the protection of civic rights in relation to government structures. It further contains the views and suggestions of international institutions and assemblies which have been publicised as early as one year ago. In addition to this the bill obtained the `go-ahead' of the Commission of Internal Policy and Defence, of the Commission of Political Systems and the Legislative Commission. It is to be subjected to Parliamentary discussion at tomorrow's session.Yesterday the Government also accepted the decision to appoint a Coordination Council for the project `Developing National Institutions to Attract International Investments in Macedonia'. It is the objective of this project to establish a dept. for investment promotion within the Ministry of Development, which is to be integrated into the global investment network as regards staff training and the training of other stakeholders for designing and assessing investment projects, as well as with respect to methods and strategies of their promotion on an international level. At yesterday's session the Macedonian Government has also adopted the proposals to use funding provided by Japan and Belgium. [05] GREEK COMPANY `LIRA' OPENS FACILITY IN BEROVOThe first foreign investment project is about to be implemented in Berovo - `Nova Makedonija' reports - adding that Greek company `Lira' rented the facilities of `Malesh Trans', which it intends to modernise by installing state- of-the-art equipment worth 24 million DM. The new plant will produce toys, household goods, souvenirs, etc. The facilities of `Malesh Trans' have been rented for the next 15 years, and the joint venture named `Mak-El International' is to initially consist of 80 employees - whereas 600 more are to be hired subsequently. It has also been intended to fully use the entire truck fleet (app. 60 lorries) of `Malesh Trans'.[06] INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DEALS OF `EMO' OHRIDThe Ohrid-based electro-equipment manufacturer `EMO' has signed a contract worth 1 200 000 DM with German company `ABB' for the export of rotational antennas produced at facilities at Oleshani and Kichevo. The Macedonian Radio also reports that recently this Ohrid firm has closed another deal with a Burmese company for the export of transformers, relay stations and steel constructions worth 4 million dollars.[07] PROTESTS OF UNEMPLOYED, LAID-OFF AND TECHNICALLY REDUNDANT WORKERS CONTINUESThe Independent Trade Union Organisations of the Unemployed, Laid-off and Technologically Redundant Workers have started their protests in front of the Government seat yesterday - media report. The protester's requests mainly focus on the payment of 60% of the average income in the country until re-employment or retirement, the active participation of two Independent Trade Unions of Macedonia representatives during enactment procedures of the Law on Social Protection, the Law on Employment and legal provisions affecting those permanently impaired due to an accident at their place of work - and the reviewing of the privatisation of all bankrupt companies, etc. Demonstrations have also been joined by people who have been impaired at work - from all over the country - as they demand to be covered by a separate Fund regardless of their category of impairment, whereas two of their representatives are to be actively engaged into the work of the Social Services Centre.Demonstrators have announced that they would picket the Government until PM Branko Crvenkovski agreed to meet with them. Should this not be the case within the following seven days, the second stage involving other municipalities would be implemented - according to the Independent Trade Union Organisations. [08] `NBM' CODIFIES OPERATIONAL TERMS FOR SAVINGS INSTITUTESAt its session yesterday the Council of the National Bank of Macedonia (NBM) has adopted several decisions conducive to a more precise codification of the terms in which savings institutes will be allowed to operate, media report. In the future the overall deposits in savings of such a financial institute may not surpass its founding capital, i.e. their correlation is to be 1 : 1. Should this not be the case , banks are required to balance this deficit by increasing the founding capital by at least 10% per month over a period of 12 months - while it will not be allowed to accept new savings deposits.This strictness by the central bank is being attributed to the intention to counter the current trend where overall savings are up to 10 times bigger than a bank's founding capital. These regulations will not affect the Post Bank, however. The central bank has furthermore decided that one client may be granted a maximum of 10% of the warranty capital of a bank in loans (as opposed to the 30% valid so far). Concordant to this decision banks will have to regulate their status within the time frame of six months. Another of the conclusions adopted by the central bank requires the open listing of savings deposits, including the date of depositing those funds, the terms of payment and interest rate values - as well as the clear stating that banks are not permitted to admit new deposits should this be the case. [09] NEW CASE OF DECEIVED BANK CLIENTS IN KUMANOVO`Vecher' reveals that these days a new case of bank savings embezzlement has been discovered in Kumanovo. The casualty list is comprised of app. 50 persons, and over 700 000 DM.These funds had been obtained by a firm `on a temporary basis', for the payment of high monthly interest rates. The company in question is named `Er-Komerc' and owned by a Ms. Roza Trajkovich who succeeded in opening seven bookstores in Kumanovo in 1995, due to the expedient accumulating of hard currency funds (borrowed from her victims). Soon, however, this venture went sour and the high monthly interest rates stopped pouring in. In order to avoid confrontations with upset clients, Trajkovich filed charges against the latter (over 100) with the Kumanovo police - which resulted in restraining orders. As the victims grew increasingly desperate, however, they resorted to physical violence against the firm owner and her spouse in several instances - but this was not conducive to restitution. Currently the victims have pressed criminal charges against Trajkovich with the Basic Court of Kumanovo. The first hearing of the case has been scheduled for 21st February. [10] IMRO-DPMNE: `BANK CLIENTS ROBBED THROUGH MODERN STATE CRIME'IMRO-DPMNE supports the justified protests of deceived bank clients and their demands for the restitution of their savings which `have disappeared overnight, with the blessing of correspondent state authorities which are condoning this modern version of state crime', states the party press release issued yesterday. `The price paid for transition - as PM Crvenkovski would like us to believe - actually represents a premeditated capitalisation campaign conducted by incumbent SDSM structures, which commenced with the freezing of hard currency assets worth one and a half billion dollars, deposited in Macedonian banks by the citizens of this country, back in 1991', the statement continues.As MTV reports the IMRO-DPMNE stresses that it fully sympathises with those affected by these tragic events, i.e. the plundering of the population's savings earned during their lives - adding that there is a necessity of energetic measures to be taken against offenders who `freely play hide-and-seek with both the judiciary and law enforcement'. Upon emphasising that all this is a consequence of the Government's managing incompetence, the IMRO-DPMNE states that reality has to be faced and early elections be staged - as this would avert conditions similar to those prevailing in neighbouring countries. [11] SDPM: `STRIKES DUE TO PRIVATISATION IRREGULARITIES'The Social-Democratic Party of Macedonia has evaluated labour unrest and strikes as a consequence of privatisation irregularities as regards national capital yesterday, A-1 TV reports. Party leader Branko Janevski has furthermore stated during yesterday's press conference that the SDSM / SPM coalition is to be attributed to a similarity of agendas, though views on and modalities on the sustainability of this alliance are yet to be examined. As regards deceived bank clients the SDPM thinks that the NBM should not distance itself from the victims, but rather aid them. In addition to this the main protagonists of this banking scandal should be held accountable.[12] `PDP' REMAINS IN GOVERNMENT FOR NOWRegarding speculations that by the end of the week the PDP is to pass the definite decision on whether it will leave the Government coalition (reported by `Dnevnik' yesterday) or not, `Nova Makedonija' reveals in today's edition that according to party leader Abduraham Aliti the PDP would remain within the Government. He further discarded rumours that this issue had been debated over the past 10 days, or that the `final verdict' was due by the close of this week.Aliti stated that this `Hamlet's question' is almost as old as the PDP track record within the Government, thus that party structure / branches views are being monitored permanently - as well as the standing towards government decisions in matters of vital importance to Albanians. [13] MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF TETOVO ELECTED AT LASTYesterday the Court of Appeals in Skopje has overruled the objection of the PDP Tetovo that local elections in this city had not been conducted concordant to the law as unsubstantiated. This finally completes the first round of the mayor elections in this city, while bringing Municipal Council elections to a definite close. The Council is to consist of 23 members, of which 8 are representatives of the PDPA, 5 of the PDP, 4 of the DPM, 2 of the IMRO-DPMNE / DP / MAAK-CP coalition, 2 of the SDSM and 1 of the NDP.Regarding the election of one Parliamentary representative of Gostivar - the Municipal Election Commission has revealed yesterday that officially four candidates have made it into the second round: Alaydin Demiri (PDPA) with 7 905 votes, Abdouladi Veyseli (PDP) with 6 291 votes, Tomislav Stojanovski - Bombay (DPM) with 5 509 votes and Liman Kourteshi (NDP) with 3 595 votes. MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `STATEMENT of the Loyal Communities for Maintenance of the Integrity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia'(`Third Meeting of the Loyal Communities, Melbourne, Victoria' - 8th February 1997)- Part Two ` I have expected little and found much. There is no need for me to be consigned to eternal fire and brimstone after my death : here my soul has been subjected to far greater horrors, pain and torment ` GOCE DELCHEV ` Father, it is finished ... ( I have accomplished what you asked me to do ) ...' THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, ON THE CROSS Coordinating Committee of the Movement of the Loyal Communities for Maintenance of the Integrity of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Australia * Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria Inc. * Macedonian Orthodox Church Community, Preston, Inc., Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Church Community, St. Albans & District Inc., Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Community of Adelaide & SA Inc. * Macedonian Community of Western Australia Inc. * Macedonian Orthodox Community of Newcastle & Districts Inc. * Macedonian Orthodox Believers Inc., Sydney, NSW Executive Committee, together with the Working Committee of Presidents, of the Australian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.George & St.Mary `, Epping, Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.George ` , Fitzroy, Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Monastery ` St.Kliment `, Kinglake, Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.Nikola `, Preston, Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.Mary `, St.Albans, Victoria * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.Naum `, Adelaide, Sth Australia * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.Nikola `, Perth, West.Australia * Macedonian Orthodox Church ` St.Mary `, Newcastle, NSW January 19th 1997 Resolutions passed at the Meeting 1. To revitalize the original and legal Australian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese (AMOD), and its mandated Executive Committees, which is now only comprised of the Representatives (civil) of the Loyal Communities ; to bring forward necessary amendments to its constitution and rules with a view to the making of a formal application for incorporation ; for this purpose, a Working Committee is Appointed, Comprised of the Presidents of the Loyal Communities ; to make formal application to the Holy Synod for appointment of a Metropolitan and his deputy, on the basis of full consultation with the Loyal Communities and the Executive Committee of the AMOD. 2. In the event that the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church fails to take into consideration our demands, we shall be forced to take independent measures to ensure the continuity of church affairs in our churches and the regularization of the status of the Macedonian Communities and Churches in Australia which most emphatically refuse all manner of cooperation with Metropolitan Petar. 3. To require the Holy Synod to appoint a parish priest to the Church ` St.Mary, Holy Mother of God ` in St.Albans, Victoria, within one month, while a reply to this request is required within seven days of the receipt by the Synod of this resolution. 4. To require the Synod to replace Parish Priest Father Mile Talevski of the Church ` St.Nicholas ` in Preston, Victoria, because he has caused considerable damage to the Macedonian Church and the Macedonian Community in Australia. His replacement must be appointed in full consultation with the Executive Committee of the Community in Preston. 5. The Loyal Communities to report Bishop Petar to the Immigration Department for conduct unbecoming a temporary resident and for causing unnecessary division in the Australian Macedonian Community. 6. To give continuing priority to the current problems in the Church, but at the same time the Coordinating Committee of the Loyal Communities to commence a project to transform the Movement of the Loyal Communities into an incorporated ` Association of Macedonian Communities in Australia `, for the purpose of enabling coordination and cooperation across Australia in respect of the non-religious aspects of the life of Macedonians in Australia. 7. To financially assist the Community in St.Albans, to enable the laying of the foundation for the Church ` St.Mary, Holy Mother of God `. 8. To make small and subtle changes to the official Statement of the Meeting, in respect of the subject-matter concerning Macedonians who originate from the Aegean part of Macedonia. (end)mils news 12 February 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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